C o n t i n u i n g To P r o u d l y S e r v e C a r r o l l C o u n t y S i n c e 1 8 3 1 $1.00
Thursday, July 4, 2019
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Carrollton BOE honors Ashton Association for its support Association presented the district with $110,000 to equip field house
By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent
Carrollton Schools Superintendent Dave Quattrochi and Board of Education members honored the Ashton Preservation Association for a donation of $110,000.
These funds will be used for equipment and supplies for the field house. The equipment and training programs will benefit all students. “The Ashton Association has given back to the community in so many ways,” said Quattrochi. He then listed just a few of the things the Ashton Foundation has gifted to the schools,
such as the astro turf project, band bleachers, baby grand piano for the music department, new cafeteria equipment, vending machines, iPads, library computers, and the grandstands at the fairgrounds.
See GIFT, PG. 3
July 4 events planned throughout the area
FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar
Carrollton Exempted Village School District officials (from left) Storm Hill and Brad Barker accept a $110,000 grant from the Ashton Preservation Association, represented by Elaine Painting, Curt Adams, Amy Rutledge and Rose Seck.
Several area events are planned to celebrate Independence Day this week. • Bergholz July 4 Celebration: Parade starts 11 a.m. to the fire station. Free popcorn, snow cones, hotdogs, soft drinks and water. Entertainment for the kids as well as adults from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Atwood Lake Fireworks: At press time, the fireworks are still planned for Friday, July 5, at approximately 10 p.m. Aaron Stump, park director, said that all water activities, including the Red, White and Blue Kayak Tour scheduled for July 4, have been canceled. The swimming beach is closed due to high water levels. There are still a lot of land activities planned for this weekend. Stump noted the trail remains open and visitors will be able to enjoy the park’s new courts, including a pickle ball court. Visitors are advised to monitor the park’s website, atwoodpark.mwcd.org and Facebook should the schedule change. • Carrollton Fireworks: Hosted by the Carrollton Eagles Aerie 2185 and its Auxiliary on Saturday, July 6, at the Carrollton Fairgrounds on state Route 9, Carrollton. Straight On, a Heart tribute band, is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. with the fireworks to follow at dusk. Donations are welcome.
Griffeth Trucking expanding operations Demolition of Bell Herron with move to former Heritage Plastics MS set to begin July 8 By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent The Carroll County Community Improvement Corp. (CIC) board members were pleased to learn Thursday, June 27, that Jim Griffeth, owner of Griffeth Trucking, doing business as the Rock Shop on State Route 39 just west of Carrollton, is moving the business to Carrollton. At the CIC meeting, Griffeth explained his company has grown and he needs more room and is pleased to find a location in Carrollton. The trucking company on SR 39 will all be moved to the new building, the former Heritage Plastics on North Lisbon Street in Carrollton. That includes rocks, gravel, limestone, scales, everything. Part of the building will house the company offices, but there is more space than he needs, so office space
for other businesses will be available for rent. There is 100,000 feet of warehouse space that he will not be using and that will be leased out to businesses that need the extra room. Approximately 20,000 feet has already been spoken for, according to Griffeth. Griffeth currently employs 29 people but stated that 40 new jobs will be available when the move to the new building is completed. Griffeth said that includes ,truck drivers, mechanics, clerical staff and others. One large room will be used for parts. Anyone with a truck knows, you can’t get parts without driving to a city. Griffeth plans to fix that by providing truck parts and repairs in his shop. “There is nothing here to service the truck industry. Peterbuilt is meeting with us to determine what they will stock and have available to customers. This is going to be a journey. This is a big opportunity for the community,” said Griffeth.
Griffeth said he can usually get only a couple of loads of limestone each day. “That is sold before it gets here,” said Griffeth as he told of the demand for rock product. One of the biggest areas of development for the company and the county will be the expansion and use of the old railway spur. This rail will be open to the public. Other companies may use it. As long as they can forklift it off the rail, it can be done, according to Griffeth. “It’s open to any business. No charge. It’s time we bring back the rail. The CIC could give a grant for this project to solidify the rail,” stated Carroll County Director of Economic Development Christopher Modranski. The changes and expansion for the Griffeth Trucking Company will represent a more than $1 million invest-
See JOBS, PG. 7
Demolition of the Bell Herron Middle School begins Monday, July 8. This demolition will continue through the month of July. The project is under the control of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and the Carrollton Exempted Village School District. Shook Construction is also constructing the new school campus. Eslich Wrecking Company will be doing the abatement and demolition of Bell Herron, Augusta and Dellroy elementary buildings. Director of Programs for Carrollton Schools Ed Robinson said that bricks from Bell Herron will be made available to the public on the outside of the construction fence. They will be placed in the parking area near the gymnasium on the north side of Third Street NE. Officials are asking residents to please not enter the fenced in area of the job site at any time during the day or night in the coming weeks. Demolition
times will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Eslich Wrecking Company understands that many people in the community will want to watch the process and asks everyone to do so from safely behind the construction fence. If you wish to check their website for any past demolition performed by the company you may do so at www.eslich.com. The company will be using a Komatsu PC 450 Excavator with a variety of specialized attachments. This machine will be bringing the building down in a safe, controlled method. A dust destroyer water machine will also be used for dust control. This is a remote control unit allowing the operator to spray a fine mist, water-efficient blower in the tear-down areas for optimum dust control. Traffic will be controlled by a flagger on the corners of Lisbon and Third Street to allow local traffic to proceed during this process.
Stormy weather takes toll on county again The heavy rains and winds that came through the county Saturday evening, June 29, brought more flooding and downed trees. The county has been hit hard in recent weeks with heavy rains and some residents at Leesville Lake are still isolated due to high water. Roads near Dellroy are closed due to high water. Water covered Avalon Road, just outside of Dellroy. And water rose on State Route 39 on the edge of Dellroy beside the elementary school. SR 39 remained closed over the weekend and was still closed on Monday. On Sunday afternoon, even though barricades were in place with signs warning of high water, some drivers were still making the attempt to go through. State Highway Patrol officers were issuing citations on Sunday for those drivers who drove through the high water at the school. One driver said the officer told her, as he wrote her ticket, ROAD CLOSED is not a suggestion. It is a direct order of law that the road is closed. And that means for everyone. High winds toppled many trees and took out power lines. Again.
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Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Brett Lee said Monday that about 1,200 American Electric Power customers were without electricity from Saturday when the storm hit, until early Monday morning. Sherrodsville, Leavittsville, Leesville and Bowerston residents were without power over the weekend too. As of Monday, July 1, by noon, a few isolated residents remain without power but the majority have been restored. “We’ve been working with township trustees and the villages trying to do a damage assessment of the area hit by the storm. It hit the same places it hit before. Areas that were under water in the last couple of weeks are under water again. Unfortunately, we’re supposed to have rain for the next few days. We’re hoping it tapers off,” said Lee. Commissioners discussed the closed roads, high water, and property damage reports from the weekend. One home had a large tree fall on it and that tree brought the power lines down with it too. There were many reports of downed limbs, trees, and other wind damage from the weekend.
classified pg.9
Photo courtesy of Brett Lee
Deer Road was heavily damaged by downed trees and limbs, according to Carroll County Deputy EMA Deputy Director Brett Lee.
obits pg. 4
opinion pg. 4
sports pg. 5